TRAVELOGUE-DENVER-STAR DATE 2011.0820: Ft. Carson

This week was an emotional one and one with some travel for me. I traveled south through Colorado Springs, viewed the amazingly spacious Air Force Academy and Pike’s Peak, and ended up at Ft. Carson where we interviewed and naturalized some of the 30,000 infantrymen who call Ft. Carson home. Of all the people who become citizens, watching military members take the oath is always an emotional event for me. As they took their Oath and then the Pledge of Allegiance, I said a prayer that all those who will be deploying to Afghanistan will return soon, safe, and whole.

One solider stole my heart. He lived in Brooklyn as a child, attended college, married, had a child, lost his job, and could not find another. He joined the Army so that he could support his family and was sent to Ft. Carson. He is an Army medic and will be deployed soon. How poignant it was to observe his tears fall as he watched the officer stamp his application approved.

I wonder if all of us had to quote the Oath of Allegiance every day if there would be so much infighting. What do you think?

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

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Dr. Sheila Embry is a govie, author, pracademician, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend who loves to read, write, think, and laugh. Many of her blog postings are summaries or excerpts of books that she read and wants to share to encourage others. An author with more than 25 years experience within the legislative and executive branches of the U. S. federal government holding 3 accredited degrees: Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, Master of Arts in Human Resources Development, and Baccalaureate of Business Administration, she believes in continuing learning both on and off the job. She has been recognized with multiple professional and writing awards for her peer-reviewed, publications. Click the bibliography page above for a listing of all the publications.
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